Which is Better? An Electric or a Gas-Powered Leaf Blower?
The answer to this question depends on what you mean by “better.” Neither is really better or worse than the other. They just cater to different needs. Because of that, I can’t give you a definitive answer on which one will work best for you, but I can tell you the pros and cons of each and let you decide for yourself.
Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Pros of Gas Power
- Power. Gas leaf blowers can clear a yard of leaves much faster than a typical electric leaf blower, so if speed and power are what you want, gas is for you.
- Mobility. Gas-powered leaf blowers run on gasoline that you put directly into the machine itself, which means that you don’t have to worry about staying near a power outlet.
Cons of Gas Power
- Pollution. This is probably the biggest con of gas-powered leaf blowers, and both air pollution and noise pollution are a concern here. Gas leaf blowers are noisy and let out a lot of smoke.
- Maintenance. Though gas leaf blowers tend to be cheaper upfront and last a little longer than electric blowers, they come with many potential maintenance costs. You may have to get their engines fixed, and of course, you’ll need to regularly buy gas to keep them running.
Electric Leaf Blowers
There are two types of electric leaf blowers: corded ones and battery-powered ones. Each has its pros and cons.
Pros of Electric Power
- Lightweight. Because electric blowers don’t have a heavy combustion engine, they tend to be much easier to carry around than gas-powered ones.
- Less pollution. Electric leaf blowers aren’t as loud as their gas-powered counterparts, and neither do they release smoke into the air.
Cons of Electric Power
- Limited range or limited battery life. Corded leaf blowers require you to stay near a power outlet, within the range of your longest extension cord, which can be very constraining if you have a large area to cover. Battery-powered ones don’t have the range issue, but their battery life may be very short, able to go only about 15-30 minutes before needing a recharge.
- Less powerful. Electric power is getting better, but it still doesn’t quite live up to the power of gas blowers.
Final Point
Each type of leaf blower comes with advantages and disadvantages, so it’s really up to you to decide which kind is best for you. Hopefully, this article has helped you make that choice!